When a cosmetic flip uncovers an electrical panel that needs replacing

Anything an inspector reliably writes up becomes a price negotiation whether you touch it or not, and the seller usually loses more at the table than the repair would have cost. Panels also come up on insurance; some carriers will not bind a policy on certain older panels at all, which means the buyer's financing can stall. Worth a call to a local agent about how it plays in your market.

The cosmetic label describes what you planned, not what the house needs, and that's what I keep coming back to. Doesn't sound like scope creep to me, sounds like the inspection you should have paid for before closing found something late.

This is the good kind of scope addition, one item, known cost, done in a day, and it removes a specific objection from the sale. The bad kind is the sentence that starts "while the electrician is here." Can lights, then a subpanel for the future kitchen, then rewiring the back bedroom because the outlets are two prong.

Price the panel, permit it, put it in writing with the electrician that nothing else opens without your signature. And update your buy checklist so the next one gets a panel photo before you're under contract.